Kamerton, the choir of the Witold Lutosławski State Music School of the first degree in Bolesławiec, was founded in October 1999. Its director is the outstanding conductor Aleksander Samostrokov. The choir has performed, among other places, in Italy, Austria, Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic and Ukraine. It has many achievements to its name, including the Golden Bells of Lubin, second prize at the Ukrainian Golden Orpheus festival and at the International “Musica Religiosa” Festival in Olomouc (Czech Republic). What is more, last year Kamerton took first place at the International Religious Song Festival “Cantate Deo” in Rzeszów.
The choir is financially supported by the Bolesławiec City Office. “By taking part in this type of music competition, we promote the city,” says the conductor. “We do not always manage to win the main prize,” the Kamerton director jokes. “But we always finish near the top.”
Recruitment is under way
Classes are free of charge, and from September they will be held on Tuesdays and Fridays (from 4:00 p.m.) at the State Music School. You do not have to be a PSM student to enrol, but you must be at least 10 years old. “Future choir members do not have to be exceptionally talented singers,” Samostrokov stresses. “From experience, I know that children find their voices over time, make tremendous progress and sometimes even become soloists.”
According to the conductor, it is worth taking part in this type of class. “Here, not only the voice develops, but also hearing and memory,” says Aleksander Samostrokov. “All of this has a considerable impact on comprehensive intellectual development.”
The new Kamerton’s first serious test will come in October. The choir will perform at the ceremony announcing the title of minor basilica at the Sanctuary in Bolesławiec. Kamerton, together with other choirs, will perform an oratorio written specially for the ceremony by Fr. Bartłomiej Kot from Oleśnica.
(information: ii)